Puneri Paltan will face Dabang Delhi in their opening match of the Pune leg of Pro Kabaddi

Puneri Paltan have suffered again this season and have only pride to play for as they go into their home leg in Pune. Injuries and a rather weak defense has let the Puneri Paltan team down on several occasions.

But among the several defensive failures for the Paltan, young Ravi Kumar has emerged as a fine talent and has highly impressed the coach Ashok Shinde with some of his performances which has seen him become a regular in the Puneri Paltan’s right side of the defense.

Ravi was again impressive in a much improved defensive display from the Puneri Paltan against the Bengal Warriors in a match which they lost by just three points as the Paltan struggled to have a fit raider on the field.

But Ravi and co. will have their work cut out when they will face the league’s top raider Kashiling Adake and his Dabang Delhi side in the first game of the Pune leg today.

“Kashiling is the main threat to us”

Ravi too has identified Kashiling as the main danger man for his side and feels the need to contain the deadly raider. “We know that Kashiling is a top raider and is the main threat to us. We have to make sure that we don’t give away easy points to him as he can then take us apart. The team has a plan for him and we know if we don’t let him succeed we will win the game,” said the young defender hailing from Saranpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Ravi who otherwise works as an employee in the Western Railways at Mumbai, experienced the magic of the Pro Kabaddi League for the first time and he is glad that he got an opportunity to play under such a good coach. “I have a good coach and a good team. The coach has helped me tremendously and has constantly backed him. Its because of him that I was able to do well so far,” said Ravi Kumar.

After seeing large crowds come out to support some of their opponents, Ravi is extremely excited to play in front of their home support and is confident that the home crowd will give them an extra edge which they perhaps lacked early on. “We are playing at home and people are going to support us. That’s very exciting and I am looking forward to playing in Pune. Hopefully we can win all the games at home”, the Puneri Paltan defender said.

Ravi Kumar looks very positive despite his side’s lack of wins and will be one of the key men if the Paltan are about to bring a change in their fortunes. Irrespective of the results though, Ravi Kumar is one of the finest upcoming defenders in India.